Wendy Bentley Design Blog

New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-11T10:22:00.000-05:00

I thought I would add an image from my "Trees for All Seasons" calendar as my New Year's resolution image. Why not do a count-down of the 10 things you would like to work on this year? In highlighting Regina Brett and her 45 life lessons. I think her lessons can help formulate and consider what are the most important things we should be thinking about in our own lives....

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old. This is something we should all read at least once a week!!!!!

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. Release your children when they become adults, its their life now.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn't mean you are. Keep an open mind.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. Your job is to love your children, not choose who they should love.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield..
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Were there thoughts she had that triggered something in you? I particularly liked the ones about children. As a protective mom, I think I will have a hard time letting them go out into the world on their own. I know I have time to adjust to this one.

Another quote I liked was, "If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." While I try to look on the positive side of life, that doesn't mean I don't have my fair share of complaints, but My little things I worry about are mine and I can work on fixing them by actions I take or changing my attitude.

Home for the Holidays

2012-01-03T12:30:00.001-05:00

With our first dusting of snow yesterday, the kids were chomping at the bit to put on their snow gear and make some snow angels. I thought it would be fun to post a painting of the little Bentley Snow-people family.

2012 Resolutions post to come....

Wendy's Lil Holiday Gift Bags

2011-12-15T16:25:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,
I am obsessed with making my little bags! An old stocking I made inspired me to rummage through my holiday stash of fabric. There I found many textures and sheens in deep greens, organza with gold filigrees, red satin with embroidered butterflies and more. I added fabric flowers to this little elegant line of bags to give the group dimension. How did I make these flowers you ask? I followed the pdf instructions in a July 8th blog entry at Timeless Treasures blog. I thought I might enjoy having a bouquet of flowers to use in my little bag photoshoot, but they ended up being their own beautiful images on their own.

Spoonflower Baby Book Top Ten Winner

2011-12-15T13:31:00.000-05:00

Hi Folks,
I am happy to say I am one of the top ten winners in the cloth baby book contest at Spoonflower! Bora's "to the circus" was the #1 winner and I just absolutely love her book. In fact many of the top ten were my favorites. These contests are a great way to keep your mind working, so stay-tuned for more entries. Here is the cover and back cover of my Zooby Book. I chose some obvious animal choices to represent each letter, and some "not so common" choices, like a X-ray Tetra fish, and a Yellow-jacket. This babybook fabric is available at Spoonflower, so check it out.

Nouveaux Noel by Wendy Bentley

2011-12-14T15:58:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,
Here is the launch of my holiday fabric through Spoonflower called Nouveaux Noel. This collection can make great gifts for the holidays. Yes, this cheerful fabric is up FOR SALE and can be ordered through the link above. I made these cute little mix-n-match bags that are the perfect size for a gift like socks, lotion, or other small items. Giving your gift in this little home-made bag makes the gift just a little more thoughtful, right? These bags can also be hung on doorknobs with potpourri adding a nice fresh wintergreen fragrance to the air. I like the tag print for its versatility; cut out the icons for ornaments, tags or grab three Nouveaux Noel prints for a set of tea-towels. Enjoy!

Winter Wonderland Star Centerpiece

2011-12-13T15:58:00.001-05:00

Hi Folks,
The winter wonderland giveaway through Timeless Treasure's Blog has been extended to Wednesday. I thought I would show a digital concept for a table centerpiece. If you like cool sparkling colors of white and blue snowflakes and swirls for winter enter this contest and you just might win!

Zooby Book Spoonflower Competition

2011-12-12T09:38:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends,

Have you heard of Spoonflower? Well, if you haven't, it is a great place to get your own fabric designs printed. Along with designers selling their fabric, Spoonflower also has fun weekly competitions too. I have entered the Cloth Baby Book competition and would love your votes for Zooby Book by Wendy Bentley. Of course, there are many wonderful options to choose from, so pick your favorite and vote away. After the competition, I will put the Zooby design up for sale. If you sew, or know a sewer, it is a simple book to put together. It would be a cute stocking stuffer wouldn't it?

Winter Wonderland GIve Away through Timeless Treasures

2011-12-09T23:55:00.001-05:00

Hi Everyone, I am excited to tell you about a fun Winter Wonderland Give-Away. The winner will be announced on Monday, December 11th, so enter today! Go to Timeless Treasure's Blog Sew Timeless to get all the details. Three yards of fabric would great to win, right?
Enter to Win:
½ yard of wendy-c9078-blue
½ yard of wendy-c9078-navy
½ yard of wendy-c9080-navy
½ yard of wendy-c9081-blue
½ yard of wendy-c9081-navy
½ yard of wendy-c9082-blue

I would love to blog anyone's creations with Winter Wonderland. This fabric will be great throughout the many winter months to come. Happy Holidays!

Lift Your Spirit Calendar

2011-12-08T13:01:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,
The New Year is almost here, so you are probably getting close to needing a new calendar. You can find my Lift Your Spirit calendar which comes in two sizes at Dollar Tree for $1. Can you believe it?! This calendar is filled with cheerful doodles and inspirational quotes by famous people and some by my mom and me too. I have received wonderful comments from customers about this calendar. This collection was also a fabric line through Timeless Treasures, so look for it on-line or your local quilt stores. I am so glad it has made people as happy as it made me when designing it.

Acuquilt Winter Wonderland Concept

2011-11-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

With Winter Wonderland coming out Dec 1st, it is the perfect time to come up with a beautiful winter quilt. This is an elegant collection that is full of quiet, delicate snowflakes perfect for the cold, wintry months. Cuddle up in a quilt with matching pillows or decorate the table with sophisticated table cloth, napkins and place mats. The wonderful thing about this collection is that its hues of blues and whites complement many home decor settings. Since time if of the essence, I thought I would create some digital quilt concepts with Acuquilt's Go Fabric Cutter using the Go! Double Wedding Ring pattern. I am hoping I will find this as a gift under the Christmas tree, hint...hint...

Acuquilt's Go Fabric Cutter

GO! and GO! Baby Fabric Cutters impress quilters and fabric crafters with their accuracy, speed, ease and portability. Whatever your experience level, GO! will make quilting and fabric crafting even more enjoyable for you.

Cut accurate shapes
Up to 90% faster than rotary
Safe and easy to use

Here are the prints for Winter Wonderland, check on-line or your local quilt shops for this sophisticated, timeless group. I looking forward to blogging about anyone's beautiful creations!

Boxes and Bows—Lift Your Spirit

2011-11-29T13:13:00.001-05:00

Hi All,
I hope your Thanksgiving was great...now don't blink, time to celebrate Christmas! Happily there is much to do and create around the holidays like make this Christmas quilt called Boxes and Bows by Denise Russart. Upon receiving the November/December issue of Quiltmaker, I happily recognized some of my Lift Your Spirit fabric used in this celebratory tradition of gift-giving quilt. The throw (60" x 72") includes fabrics from Timeless Treasures and can be purchased at shopquiltmaker.com or call 877-269-8024. Wrap up the holidays with colorful pieced and appliqued packages. QM111202

Thanksgiving Day Race 2012

2011-11-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

Here it is—the logo for the 102nd Thanksgiving Day Race! I am proud to be a part of the Thanksgiving Day Race tradition which has been in Cincinnati, Ohio for 102 years. Since 1998, I have designed the T-shirts, banners, letterhead and ads. Annually, over 10,000 runners/walkers have participated. Here is a look at all the designs through the years. My family and I look forward to walking it every year; it makes the Thanksgiving dinner that much better.

Halloween Pumpkin Carving Fun

2011-10-29T16:06:00.002-04:00

Hi Folks, Halloween is just days away. Something about Halloween is just so much FUN! Last night we carved our pumpkins. As you can see, we have a permanent marker side and a carved side. Along with our carved pumpkins, I dressed Chloe and Chet up in some basic Pumpkin shawls I made several years ago. They are so easy to make and can really keep you warm.

We happen to get two whole pumpkins out of our own back yard garden. One of the pumpkins ended up being gored by a raccoon....looks like pumpkin soup inside. Soon, another pumpkin was growing, first green, then yellow and then a gorgeous orange. I took a beautiful birds-eye view of the top of the pumpkin and love where the green stem meets the vibrant orange, so beautiful!

I love the outdoor mat I did several years ago through Magnetworks. Such a friendly greeter. More Halloween fun to come....

Chloe's laken & lila outfit

2011-10-19T11:11:00.002-04:00

When Chloe received her laken & lila outfit, she immediately had to put it on! Throughout the day, she commented on how much she loved it. As you can see, I am not a professional photographer, but check out the many adorable outfits to choose from at her etsy store to pick the one that is just right for the children in your life!

Perk Me Up Clothes by Curious Georgia

2011-10-13T11:07:00.000-04:00

Tweetily Doodle Folks!
Look at these "OH SO CUTE" clothes and models with my Perk Me Up fabric through Timeless Treasures. The pink paisleys with the brown accents are perfect for Fall clothing, just add leggings or stockings. If you would like to order these outfits for your kiddies, contact Curious Georgia. If you are interested in making clothing or home decor items with this fabric, look in your local quilt shop or on-line stores. I love the collaboration with Curious Georgia, clothing kid shop and Chrissi Richards photography—what talented women and moms!

Chilly Day at Neltner Farm

2011-10-06T23:03:00.002-04:00

Hi Folks! Our annual visit to the Neltner Farm has come once again. Even though it was a pretty cold day, the kids enjoyed riding little ponies, feeding goats and taking a wagon ride to the pumpkin patch. Yes, I definitely should have packed their hats and mittens, lesson learned during these transitional months.

I love looking at the vibrant colors of the pumpkins, gourds and red wagon against the green fields. What a wonderful palette to enjoy and take inspiration from in future collections.

Birdie by Dimensions Crafts

2011-09-23T20:47:00.001-04:00

I am happy to show a new needlepoint project you can get through Dimensions Needlecraft. This is based on one of my collections called Gypsy Garden. You can see the array of imagery in my 2007-2010 portfolio. This collection is also sold as fine poster art through Bentley Publishing Group, called Bohemian Floral. I hope I get the chance to do this needlepoint some day.

Perk Me Up boxes

2011-09-20T11:16:00.002-04:00

Tweetily Doodle,

I thought I would share the latest gift boxes I made. I will be selling them at a coffee shop show I will be doing with my friend Pam. Wouldn't these be cute to give these boxes with chocolates and coffee as a gift to a friend? Here is a little about my "Perk Me Up" collection:

There are certain necessities in life—1.Coffee and 2. Chocolate; they go hand in hand. If you are looking for an energy booster, try the fabric in Perk Me Up. This collection is a flash back to ‘60’s art, with the color trends of today. Perk Me Up is great for hand bags, purses, table cloths, place mats and kitchen decor.

I look forward to seeing other people's great design with this collection. Look for Perk Me Up in local quilt shops and on-line stores. Tweetily Doodle.

Perk Me Up Apron by Sew Fab

2011-09-19T12:39:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends, How about this wonderful, reversible apron made by Pam Adkins from Sew Fab? This collection, called "Perk Me Up," is one of my latest fabric collections through Timeless Treasures. If you are a lover of chocolate and coffee, looking for fabric with an upbeat, trendy-retro feel, this may be the fabric for you! Look for this fabric on-line or your at your local quilt shops.

Laken and Lila Creates another Sweet Ensemble

2011-09-12T23:19:00.001-04:00

What happens when a creative team with their own unique talents comes together? You get something really special and fabulous! Just look at these adorable girls, photographed by Melissa Rieke, in skirts made by Heather Chopra (laken and lila) and accessorized by Birdie Baby Boutique with my Sweet Summer fabric collection. This fabric would be great for a birthday party and a birthday girl! I just love the bold backdrop to these bright and cheerful colors. If you are looking for the perfect, special gift to give your sweetie, this skirt and appliquéd t-shirt might be the perfect gift.

Thank you to Melissa Rieke Photography
www.melissariekephotography.com
http://www.facebook.com/lakenandlila#!/pages/Melissa-Rieke-Photography/103192294180
**********************

Accessories provided by:
Birdie Baby Boutique
http://www.etsy.com/shop/babybirdieboutique
http://www.facebook.com/BirdieBoutique

Clothing provided by:

laken and lila

www.lakenandlila.etsy.com

www.facebook.com/lakenandlila

Fabrics provided by:
Sweet Summer licensed to Timeless Treasures fabric.
©Wendy Bentley, www.wendybentleydesign.com
Blog, Tweetily Doodle http://wendybentleydesign.blogspot.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop/babybirdieboutique

Quilting Diva's Etsy Shop

2011-09-07T09:41:00.000-04:00

Hello Everyone! How about this rainy day? What would give you a lift for the day? How about a cheerful, oversized coaster to place a warm cup of coffee on. These super-cute mini placemats are made by the "Quilting Diva," Stacy Edeli. When I saw these adorable little creations, I reached out to see if I could highlight her and her products made from "Lift Your Spirit" fabric. Here is a little about Stacy in her words:

I have been quilting and sewing for over 20 years! I got hooked my freshman year of high school and have been sewing ever since. I have made hundreds of small quilts and wall hangings. I love to make totes, bags and coffee cozys as well. I recently purchased an embroidery machine and have been adding some new items almost daily. I have been selling my quilts to friends and giving as gifts for years so I was excited to find this outlet to sell my things over the internet and also to purchase some handmade items.

Everything purchased in my shop comes from a SMOKE FREE home :) My home is pet friendly though, I have a beautiful black lab named Lexie!!

A little more about me... I am married to Travis and have a perfect little boy named Colby, he is 8. When I am not spending time with my family or sewing, I work full time as a manager in an large credit card company. For more about me, you can find me on Facebook - Stacy Lajoie Edell and on Twitter QuiltingDiva76. I love new friends and followers!!

I lived in Maine for 29 years and moved to Florida in November, 2005 and absolutely love it here.

I am a self professed fabricaholic!! I visit a fabric store almost daily during my lunch hour and love to collect fabric - unfortunately, I collect more than I cut. I am proud of my collection and often sew before and after work as well as on weekends.

My favorite fabrics to work with are cottons. I love anything beachy and I love coffee fabrics.

Proud member of Quiltsy Team

Look for Lift Your Spirit fabric at your local quilt shop or on-line stores.

Keepsake Boxes

2011-09-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

Tweetily doodle to everyone!

I am excited to show a fun Friday project my friend, Stacy and I did together. Stacy and I were once co-workers and are both moms with young children who love to play together. We decided to do this cute, creative project based on a gift Stacy made for Chet when he was born. This keepsake box is perfect to give at a baby shower filled with baby "firsts." Baby's first bib, first binky, onesy and a journal for the mom. Here are some other ideas Stacy and I thought would be fun: Add a felt number for any age birthday. Make matching cloth napkins for holding the utensils for a children or ladies' luncheon. Look for these Sweet Summer boxes at my shop coming soon or send me an email to purchase these cute fabric boxes. Here is the beautiful box Stacy made me 5+ years ago for Chet.

Sweet Summer dresses by Curious Georgia

2011-08-31T11:07:00.001-04:00

Hi Friends,
You know what is fun? Designing new fabric collections. I just love it! You know what is even more fun? Seeing collections, like Sweet Summer, developed into cute dresses, aprons, totes and quilts. Here are some really cute dresses made by Etsy Shop, Curious Georgia, LTD. I have had the pleasure of working with Heather, the owner on two of my collections and it has been a joy. I asked Heather to tell us a little about herself.

Hi! My name is Heather and I am a California mom to three adorable little girls and wife to my very supportive hubby. I learned to sew at an early age when my mom taught me the basics on her Kenmore sewing machine from Sears. I have dabbled in sewing my entire life but didn’t start creating my own unique designs until I had three girls to dress.

Curious Georgia LTD. is a clothing line with the motto…"cute clothes for curious kids." We all know how curious kids can get and this means getting dirty and playing hard. My clothes are all made from designer fabrics…mostly of 100% cotton. These fabrics wash up nicely even when splattered with paint, mud, or even strawberry jam.

I hope you find something you can’t live without as you browse my shop. And if you don’t then send me a message and together we can create something fantastic for your little one!

Here are the dresses listed in my shop:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80797001/sweet-summer-reverse-knot-dress-sizes-6
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80796399/sweet-summer-tiered-twirl-dress-sizes

These cute dresses are for sale! Warning: You will crave ice cream. Check out the variety of clothes made by Curious Georgia. Special thanks to Mi-lolli for her photography.

Pam Adkins Sweet Summer Apron

2011-08-29T10:31:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends,
Wouldn't it be fun to make desserts, have an ice cream party or dance around in the kitchen with this apron on? If you are interested in purchasing this really sweet apron go to Pam's etsy store, SewFab. Pam has a blog full of fun inspiration, flea market finds, Tiffany handmade bags and shows off her kitchen makeover at, Front Porch Cottage. To comment or follow Pam's blog would make her day! She is always thinking up new creative ideas.

Lift Your Spirit Quilt You Tube

2011-08-26T16:33:00.000-04:00

Hi Friends—
It is really fun to the scale of this Lift Your Spirit quilt at the Salt Lake City Quilt Market. Here is a Youtube video of Chelsea presenting this really fun and cheerful quilt. If you would like to make this quilt, go to Free Patterns section at www.ttfabrics.com.